La Salle Lake SNA

 

 

     
 
About
 
 

Ownership

 
 

Minnesota DNR logo

 
     
 

Links

 
 

Minnesota DNR

 
     
 

Overview

 
 

 

 
     
 

History

 
 

La Salle Lake SNA was designated June 27, 2011. It is part of the La Salle Lake State Recreational Area.

On July 2, 2012, a severe thunderstorm went through Clearwater and Hubbard Counties. Itasca State Park, La Salle Lake SNA, and La Salle Lake State Recreational Area were all in the path of the thunderstorm. The storm brought straight line winds with speeds in excess of 80 miles per hour. Especially hard hit was the jack pine forest in this SNA southwest of the confluence of the Mississippi River and LaSalle Creek. In this area almost every tree was uprooted or snapped.

A year later, in June, 2013, most of the fallen trees have been removed but a few remain. The fallen trees, along with tree stumps and large branches, litter the ground over what remains a large debris field. Plant species usually found only in woodlands, including round-lobed hepatica, wild sasparilla, and Canada mayflower, grow in this area with no overstory.

Nature has years of decomposition and revegetation work to accomplish here. Until then, visitors will stumble over debris concealed under a fresh understory of early successional species.

 
     
 

Management

 
 

 

 
     
 

Comments

 
 

 

 
     
 
Location
 
 

Maps

 
 

Detail map (MN DNR)

La Salle Lake SRA map (MN DNR)

 
         
 

Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates

 
  Printable map      
         
 

Size

 
 

268.7 acres

 
         
 

Parking

 
 

N47 20.983, W95 10.381

N47 20.970, W95 10.613

 
         
 

Driving Directions

  Area and County  
 

Get driving directions from Google Maps to this destination from any address, and send those directions to your phone.

   
          Hubbard County  
          Northwest Minnesota  
     
 
Activities
 
 

Hiking Trails

 
 

A short mowed trail (in 2013) leads from the parking area northwest to an overlook with a partially obstructed view.

 
     
 

Hunting

 
 

All hunting and trapping. See Hunting and Trapping Regulations (MN DNR) for details.

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Ecological Classification

  Ecological Classification  
  Ecological Province    

Laurentian Mixed Forest Province

   
  Ecological Section    

N. Minnesota Drift & Lake Plains

   
  Ecological Subsection    

Chippewa Plains

   
  Land Type Association    

Becida Till Plain

   
             
 

Native Plant Communities*

   
 

Central Rich Dry Pine Woodland

Jack Pine - (Bush Honeysuckle) Woodland: Bracken Subtype

Red Pine - White Pine Forest

Red Pine - White Pine Woodland: Balsam Fir Subtype

Sedge Meadow

White Cedar Swamp (Northcentral)

Willow - Dogwood Shrub Swamp

   
  * Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources      
         
 

Natural Features

     
 

Glacial tunnel valley, LaSalle Creek, and undisturbed natural shore of the Mississippi River.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overlooks

Several places along the bluff on the south side of the Mississippi River valley provide a scenic but obstructed view of the Mississippi River valley. There is a spectacular, unobstructed overlook at the northernmost point of the bluff. The La Salle Lake State Recreational Area map shows a hiking trail leading from the parking area to this overlook. In June 2013 the trail was not discernible on the ground.

 

 

 

 

Mississippi River Footbridge

Coffeepot Landing, a public canoe access, is adjacent to this SNA. It includes a footbridge across the Mississippi River.

 

 

 

 

           
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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Crystal Boyd

 
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

East Parking

 
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West Parking

 
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Mowed Trail

 
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Coffeepot Landing

 
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Mississippi River

 
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Scenic Overlook

 
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Obstructed Overlooks

 
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Debris Fields, 2013

 
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Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
La Salle Lake SNA
minnesota_snas
  La Salle Lake SNA  
 
About

La Salle Lake SNA is part of a larger landscape recognized for many years as an exceptional place. The clear-running La Salle Creek, its source in Itasca State Park, meanders north along a narrow valley formed as a glacial tunnel valley.

 

 

slideshow

       
 
Visitor Videos
 
       
 

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Other Videos
 
  La Salle Lake Scientific and Natural Area Virtual Hike
Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
 
   
 
About

Dec 4, 2020

La Salle Lake SNA is part of a larger landscape recognized for many years as an exceptional place.

The clear-running LaSalle Creek meanders north at the base of a steep-sided glacial tunnel valley. Fed by seeps and springs, the stream flows through many high-quality plant communities such as red pine-white pine forest, white cedar swamp, sedge meadows and willow-dogwood shrub swamps before joining the Mississippi River downstream of the popular Coffee Pot canoe landing.

mndnr.gov/snas/sna02056

 
  Sloughpumper
La Salle Lake Scientific & Natural Area blowdown
 
   
 
About

Published on Jul 5, 2012

Winds of over 80 mph leveled a jack pine forest in northwestern Minnesota durning a severe thunderstorm on July 2, 2012.

 
  Sloughpumper
A Walk in the La Salle Lake Scientific & Natural Area blowdown
 
   
 
About

Published on Jul 5, 2012

A short but difficult walk in the tangled aftermath of the July 2, 2012 wind storm that struck parts of northwestern Minnesota, including the La Salle Lake Scientific and Natural Area where this video was taken three days after the storm.

 

 

Camcorder

           
 
Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

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Insects and Arachnids

 
 

fireflies (Ellychnia sp.)

tricolored/orange-belted bumblebee (Bombus ternarius--queen)

  tricolored/orange-belted bumblebee  
         
 

Plants

 
 

juneberry (Amelanchier sp.)

blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)

wild strawberry

     
           
 
MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Visits

6/18/2013                
 
 

Birds

 
 

One bird species with conservation status in Minnesota has been seen here:

Special Concern

Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator)

 
 

Minnesota DNR Bird checklist

 
 

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Eastern Wood-peewee (Contopus virens)

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

  Black-capped Chickadee  
 

Fishes

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Fishes List

 
         
 

Fungi and Lichens

 
 

Artist’s Conk (Ganoderma applanatum)

Black Knot (Apiosporina morbosa)

  Artist’s Conk  
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
 

Two insect and arachnid species with conservation status in Minnesota have been seen here:

Special Concern

microcaddisfly (Oxyethira itascae)

unhorned microcaddisfly (Oxyethira ecornuta)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Insects List

 
 

American dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis)

chalk-fronted corporal (Ladona julia)

eastern tent caterpillar moth (Malacosoma americanum)

eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis)

monarch (Danaus plexippus)

 

chalk-fronted corporal

eastern tent caterpillar

 
 

Mammals

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Mammals List

 
  whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus)   whitetail deer  
 

Plants

 
 

One plant species with conservation status in Minnesota is found here:

Special Concern

northern oak fern (Gymnocarpium robertianum)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List

 
 

Plants frequently found in:

Central Rich Dry Pine Woodland FDc24

Jack Pine - (Bush Honeysuckle) Woodland: Bracken Subtype FDc24a1

Red Pine - White Pine Forest FDc34a

Red Pine - White Pine Woodland: Balsam Fir Subtype FDn33a1

Sedge Meadow WMn82b

White Cedar Swamp (Northcentral) FPn63b

Willow - Dogwood Shrub Swamp WMn82a

     
 

 

American cow parsnip (Heracleum maximum)

American hophornbeam (Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana)

American red raspberry (Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus)

American vetch (Vicia americana ssp. americana)

balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera)

bigleaf aster (Eurybia macrophylla)

black cherry (Prunus serotina var. serotina)

black spruce (Picea mariana)

bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)

bluebead lily (Clintonia borealis)

bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)

bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa)

Canada anemone (Anemonastrum canadense)

Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)

chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. virginiana)

common burdock (Arctium minus)

common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale)

common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)

common mullein (Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus)

common strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

common tansy (Tanacetum vulgare)

common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

cream pea (Lathyrus ochroleucus)

downy arrowwood (Viburnum rafinesqueanum var. rafinesqueanum)

downy Parlin’s pussytoes (Antennaria parlinii ssp. fallax)

early meadow-rue (Thalictrum dioicum)

eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)

field horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense)

fragrant bedstraw (Galium triflorum)

golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)

green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)

hoary alyssum (Berteroa incana)

jack pine (Pinus banksiana)

Maryland black snakeroot (Sanicula marilandica)

mountain blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium montanum var. montanum)

northern bedstraw (Galium boreale)

northern lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum)

orange hawkweed (Pilosella aurantiaca)

ostrich fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris var. pensylvanica)

pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)

paper birch (Betula papyrifera var. papyrifera)

prairie rose (Rosa arkansana)

purple meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)

red baneberry (Actaea rubra ssp. rubra)

red clover (Trifolium pratense)

red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea ssp. sericea)

red pine (Pinus resinosa)

rose twisted-stalk (Streptopus lanceolatus var. longipipes)

round-lobed hepatica (Anemone americana)

silvery cinquefoil (Potentilla argentea)

spotted water hemlock (Cicuta maculata)

spreading dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium)

sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta)

western bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum)

western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)

white clover (Trifolium repens ssp. repens)

white spruce (Picea glauca)

wild columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)

wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis)

wolfberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis)

wood betony (Pedicularis canadensis ssp. canadensis)

woodland strawberry (Fragaria vesca ssp. americana)

 

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Actaea rubra ssp. rubra (red baneberry)

Anemone americana (round-lobed hepatica)

Anemonastrum canadense (Canada anemone)

Antennaria parlinii ssp. fallax (downy Parlin’s pussytoes)

Apocynum androsaemifolium (spreading dogbane)

Aquilegia canadensis (wild columbine)

Aralia nudicaulis (wild sarsaparilla)

Arctium minus (common burdock)

Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum (northern lady fern)

Berteroa incana (hoary alyssum)

Betula papyrifera var. papyrifera (paper birch)

Cicuta maculata (spotted water hemlock)

Clintonia borealis (bluebead lily)

Cornus alternifolia (pagoda dogwood)

Cornus canadensis (bunchberry)

Cornus sericea ssp. sericea (red osier dogwood)

Equisetum arvense (field horsetail)

Eurybia macrophylla (bigleaf aster)

Fragaria vesca ssp. americana (woodland strawberry)

Fragaria virginiana (common strawberry)

Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash)

Galium boreale (northern bedstraw)

Galium triflorum (fragrant bedstraw)

Heracleum maximum (American cow parsnip)

Lathyrus ochroleucus (cream pea)

Maianthemum canadense (Canada mayflower)

Matteuccia struthiopteris var. pensylvanica (ostrich fern)

Oenothera biennis (common evening primrose)

Ostrya virginiana var. virginiana (American hophornbeam)

Pedicularis canadensis ssp. canadensis (wood betony)

Picea glauca (white spruce)

Picea mariana (black spruce)

Pilosella aurantiaca (orange hawkweed)

Pinus banksiana (jack pine)

Pinus resinosa (red pine)

Pinus strobus (eastern white pine)

Populus balsamifera (balsam poplar)

Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen)

Potentilla argentea (silvery cinquefoil)

Potentilla recta (sulphur cinquefoil)

Prunus serotina var. serotina (black cherry)

Prunus virginiana var. virginiana (chokecherry)

Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum (western bracken fern)

Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa (bur oak)

Rosa arkansana (prairie rose)

Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus (American red raspberry)

Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot)

Sanicula marilandica (Maryland black snakeroot)

Sisyrinchium montanum var. montanum (mountain blue-eyed grass)

Streptopus lanceolatus var. longipipes (rose twisted-stalk)

Symphoricarpos occidentalis (wolfberry)

Tanacetum vulgare (common tansy)

Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale (common dandelion)

Thalictrum dasycarpum (purple meadow-rue)

Thalictrum dioicum (early meadow-rue)

Thlaspi arvense (field pennycress)

Toxicodendron rydbergii (western poison ivy)

Trifolium pratense (red clover)

Trifolium repens ssp. repens (white clover)

Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus (common mullein)

Viburnum rafinesqueanum var. rafinesqueanum (downy arrowwood)

Vicia americana ssp. americana (American vetch)

Zizia aurea (golden alexanders)

 

American cow parsnip

black cherry

bloodroot

bunchberry

Canada anemone

common evening primrose

common tansy

golden alexanders

fragrant bedstraw

northern bedstraw

orange hawkweed

prairie rose

red baneberry

red clover

white clover

wild columbine

wood betony

 

 

 

Binoculars

 

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